Steam-condenser, air-cleaner, and humidifier for internal-combustion engines.



J. D. LANGDON.

STEAM CONDENSER, AIR CLEANER, AND HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL COM BUSTIONENGINES. APPLICATION FILED IuNE 22.1911.

Patented Api'. 22, 1919.

objects the production of a devlce designed JESSE D. LANG-DON, OFWATERVILLE, WASHINGTON. y

STEAM-COIN'I)ENSIE|IR.,4 AIB-CLEANER,

Specification of Letters Patent.

AND HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL-ACOMBUSTION ENGINES.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application led June 22, 1917. Serial No. 176,407.

terville, in the county of Douglas and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Condensers,Air-Cleaners, and Humidifiers for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a steam condenser air cleaner and humidifier forinternal combustion engines, and has among its several to be connectedwith the water circulating system and also with the carbureter of anengine and constructed in a manner whereby steam that has been createdin the water circulating system of the engine will be drawn into thedevice by the velocity of and into actual contact with the air which isdrawn through the deviceby the suction of the engine thereby condensingthe steam and clarifying the air of all foreign matter and precipitatingthe water of condensation and foreign matter to the bottom of the deviceand subsequently returning clear water to the circulating system fromwhich it originallj7 issued in the form of steam.

Other objects of this invention are attained by providing the devicewith means for causing the air to travel through the device in amultiplicity of varying directions and for humidifying and reducing thetemperature of the clarified air so that the same will pass from thedevice to the carbureter in a condition to produce a more highlyefficient explosive mixture for the engine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is simple in construction, efficient and durable,economical to manufacture, and which can be readily installed in any ofthe internal combustion engines now in use or which may be built in theengine structure during its course of manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear as thenature of the invention is more clearly understood from the following`description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whereinthere is disclosed one embodiment of the invention, but which issusceptible to numerous alterations and variations therein to f meet theexigencies of the case without departing from the spirit of theinvention or exceeding the scope ofthe claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view drawn centrally through the deviceand showing the detail construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

I desireto here State that I have adopted the form of my invention shownin the drawings and to be hereinafter described for thc sake ofclearness and convenience in illustrating my invention, and that theform which I have adopted is primarily designed for use in connectionwith high power tractors such as are used upon the plains for drawingheavy loads, gang plows and the v like, but that the same is capable ofbeing modified in construction and size to readily adapt the same tointernal combustion engines of lesser power for drawing lighter loads.

l Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 denotes the top ofthe radiator provided with the internally threaded nipple 2 whichsurrounds the filler opening of the radiatorv l, and screw threadedwithin the nipple 2 is the threaded end of the connecting tube 3 havingits upper end suitably secured to or formed with the plate 4 whichconstitutes the bottom of the device or condenser.

Mounted centrally Athrough the bottom 4 and projecting for adistanceinto the connecting tube 3v is the upwardly extending tube 5having suitably secured in its upper port-ion the frame or spider 6 uponthe outer ends of the arms of which is secured the edge of thesubstantially semi-spherical dome 7 which is supported by and maintainedin spaced relation to the upper end of the tube 5 by the frame or spider6 with the upper end of the tube 5 projecting fora distance within thedome 7. Also mounted upon the plate or bottom 1 and extending upwardlytherefrom are' the plurality of tubes or cylinders 8, 9, 10 and 11. Thetubes or cylinders 8, 9, 10 and 11 are disposed in consecutiveconcentric relation to the tube 5 and to each other and are alsodisposed in suitable spaced relation from the tube 5 and from each otherso as to provide a plurality of consecutive compartments 12, 13, 14 and15 therebetween and for establishing communication between thecompartments 12 and 13 there is provided in the lower portion of thetube 8 the plurality of elongated substantial inverted V- shapedopenings 16, and for establishing communication between the compartments14 and 15 there is provided in the lower portion of the, cylinder 10somewhat remote Ji'rom its lower edgeone or more apertures 17, and forAestablishing communication between the lower portion of the compartment14 and the upper interior of the connecting tube 3 and at a point abovethe plane of the lower and the inlet end of the tube 5 is provided theelbow pipe 18 which projects through a side of the connecting tube 3 andupwardly through the bottom 4 and extends' for a distance upwardlywithin the lower portion of the compartment 14 andabove the bottom 4 soas to provide for the return of clear water of condensation from thecompartment 14 to the connecting tube 3 and thence into the radiator 1and free from all j sediment or foreign matter.

The cylinders 8, 10 and 11 are of the same length or height and areprovided at their upper endswith the ring shaped top 19 forl closing thecompartments 13, 14, and 15 to is subsequently conveyed through theoutlet pipe 21 secured in the upper portion of vthe cylinder 11 at oneside of the device and to the air intake of the carbureter (not shown)of the engine. The tube 5 and its dome and the upper end of the c linder9 terminate at a point and at asuita le distance below the plane of thetop 19 and the upper ends of the cylinders 8, 10 and 11, and secured toor otherwise formed upon the upper edge or end of the cylinder 9 at theside adjacent the outlet pipe 21 and ex,m tending around the upper edgeof the cylinder 9 for substantially half of its circumference and alsoextending upwardly and inwardly in an inclined direction with its upperedge suitably secured to the point of juncture of the upper end of thecylinder 8 and the edge of the opening 20 of the top 19 is the deliectorplate 22, the remaining portion of the upper edge of the cylinder 8establishing free communication between the compartments 13 and'14.

Formed in the cylinder 10 preferably i the lower portion thereof and ata suitable 'densed steam contained therein will be momes distance fromthe bottom 4 is the screened l opening 23, which may be of any suitablewidth and extending substantially halfway around the circumference ofthe cylinder 10 and may be provided with the upper screen member 24 andthe lower screen member 25 which extend across the compartment 14 andfrom the cylinder 9 to the cylinder 10. The screened opening 23yestablishes communication between the com artments 14 and 15 and ispreferably .positioned at a point in diagonal or oblique relation to theoutlet pipe 21 and the deiector plate 22. Formed through the cylinder 11preferably at points substantially opposite and slightly below thescreened openings 23 of the cylinder 10 are preferably two sets ofminute apertures 26 and 27, only one set being shown in Fig. 1 but bothsets being shown in Fig. 3, and each of these sets of apertures 26 and27 being formed of a plurality of parallel spaced vertical apertures anddown wardly and oblquely disposed apertures extending `outwardly fromthe respective vertical apertures and in opposite directions to eachother. These apertures 26 and 27 establish communication between thecompartment 15 and the outside atmosphere which is drawn through theapertures and into contact with the clarified and humidified air issuingthrough the screen 23 for refrigerating the air, and while I preferably.form and position the same in the manner shown in the drawings I may,however, provide a greater or less number of these apertures 26 and 27and position the same at'any other suitable and desirable points uponthe cylin-l der 11 to meet the exigencias of the caseor I may dispensewith these apertures if the use and employment of the device requiresthe omission of these apertures.

The application and operation. of the device will be briefly describedas follows:

Assuming the device to be secured in the upper end of a radiator withthe air pipe 2l connected with the air intake of a carbureter, it willbe seen that when the engine is started suction will be created in thepipe 21 and consequently through the device so that atmospheric air willbe drawn through the air intake 20 into the compartment 12 and the airin its onrush through this compartment will create a vacuum in thesuction cap or hood 7 for drawing the steam upwardly through the tube 5from themdiator 1. The steam and air is then drawn through the openings16 into the' compartment 13 and upwardly against the defiector plate 22so that the air and such unconscreened yopening 23 into the compartment130 `15 and at a point obliquely opposite to the air pipe 21. As the airand moisture issues through the screened opening 23vthe same will besubjected to streams of atmospheric air issuing from the. apertures 26and 27 in a manner to refrigerate or materially reducethe temperature ofthe air and moisture, the air being then drawn through the compartmentl5 and obliquely upwardly and through the suction pipe 21. During thisloperation the'steamis thoroughly condensed andthe water of condensationwill descend 'to the` bottom of the respective compartments as will alsobe carried downwardly to the bottom of the compartments any foreignmatter such as dust, dirt, trash, etc., the foreign matter settlingvupon the bottom of the compartments the condensed water being conveyedfrom the lower portion of thecompartment 14 into the radiatorjby thedrain pipe 18 having its upper end projecting sufficiently upward intothe compartment 14 so as to form a trap to prevent any foreign matterpassing therethrough.

The compartments communicate in substantially alternating pairs, thatis, the compartments 12 and 13 communicate at their lower ends by theprovision of the inverted V-shaped slots 16, the compartments 13 and 14by the cylinder 9 terminating at a point remote from the top of thedevice and the compartments 14 and 15 by the provision of the screenedopening in one side of the cylpassage of the air and steam through thelslots 16 would be more restricted as the level of the water is raised sothat the force of the air will be increased through these slots by thesuction and will carry the surplus water upwardly through thecompartment 13 and over into the `compartment 14.

It will be seen that by the use of my device the steam will beeiiiciently condensed 'f and the air thoroughly clarified, humidiied andrefrigerated, or reduced in temperature for the purposes sought 1n avery expeditious manner. 4

While I have shownl and described the employment of four cylinders 8, 9,10 and 11 I may either decrease or increase the number of thesecylinders in accordance with the character of the engine to which -thesame is applied and in accordance with the amount of work required bythe engine, and while the device is primarlly designed for the enginesof motor vehicles and the like the same is equally applicable' tostationary internal combustion engines and other devices employing airsuch as air motors, air compressors and the like.' Again, the'device iscapable of trapping and retaining a largel amount of foreignematterwhich has been filtered from the air, but when it is desirable or deemednecessary to clean thel device of the accumulation of forelgn matter itis only necessary to temporarlly detach the device and remove theforeign matter therefrom by rinsing the device with water and thereafterreplace the device in 1plp'erative position.

Claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a *device of the character specified, the combination of a casinghaving means for connecting the same to a` steam generatving described-my invention, vwhat I"- ing device and an air suction device,.wallswithin said casing to provide compartments having communication witheach other, a

steam tube projecting into the central .compartment, a vacuum producingmember upon said steam tube, an air'intake port for the admission of airinto said central chamber for drawing the steam out of said steam tube,and a screen member at the openingbetween. the two outer compartmentswithin sald casing.

2. In ya device of the character specified,

the combination of 'a/casing having means for connecting the same to asteam generating device and an air suction device,'walls within saidcasing to provide compartments having communication with each other, asteam tube projecting into the central compartment, a vacuum producingmember upon said steam tube, an air inrtake port for the admission ofairinto said central chamber for drawing the steam from said steam tube,

a screen member at the opening` between the two outer compartmentswithin said casing, and an air inlet in rthe outer wall of said casingfor projecting air against said screen.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a casing,means for connecting said casing with a lsteam generating device, means'for connecting said casing with an air suction. device, a plurality ofwalls within saidV casing arranged in .spaced relation to each other toprovide a plurality of chambers within said casing, said chamberscommunicating witheach other at opposite ends, a steam tubecommunicating with a source of steam and projecting through the bottomof said cas'- ing and for a distance into the central chamber of saidcasing, a vacuum producing member upon the end of said steam tube withinthe central casing, an intake port in the top of said casing to providefor the drawin of atmospheric air nto said central cham er and the steamfrom said steam tube into said central casing, inverted V-shaped slotsin the lower portion of the innermost Wall to allow the air and steam topass from the central chamber into the second chamber, a deiector plateupon a ortion of the upper edge of the second wall or deflecting the airand steam over one side of the upper edge thereof and into the thirdchamber, and a screened opening in the lower portion of the third wallfor establishing communication between the third and fourth chambers,said fourth' with a source of steam and projectingthrough the bottom ofsaid casing and for a distance into-the' central chamber of said casing,a: vacuum producing member upon the end of Asaid steam tube within thecentral casing, an intake port in the top of said casing to provide forthe drawing of atmospheric air into said central chamber and the steamfrom said steam tube into said central casing, inverted V-shaped slotsin the lower portion of the innermost wall to allow the air and steam topass from the central chamber into the second chamber, a defiector plateupon a portion of the upper edge of the second Wall for deflecting theair and steam over one side of the upper edge thereof and into the thirdchamber, a screened opening in the lower portion of the third wall forestablishing communication between the third and fourth chambers, andair ports in the outer shell of said casing for the admission ofadditional atmospheric air into.

the outermost chamber for-contactingl with the air and moisture withinthe outermost chamber. i

5. The combination with the water circulating system and carbureter ofa'n internal combustion engine, of a casing provided with means forconnecting the same with the water circulating system and the airinta-ke of the carbureter, a plurality of chambers within said casing,means to establish communication between said chambers, means forconductin steam into one of said chambers, means or the admission of airinto the .chamber surrounding the steam conducting means in a directionopposite tothe direction of the iow of steam, a foraminous outletbetween a certain two of said chambers, and means for admittingadditional atmosphericl air to commingle with the air and moistureissuing from said foraminous opening.

6. The combination with the water circulating system and carbureter ofan internal combustion engine, of a casing provided with means forconnecting the same with the water circulating system and the air intakeof the carbureter, a1 plurality of chambers within said casing, means toestablish communication between said vchambers, means for conductingsteam into/one of said chambers, means for the admission of air into thechamber surrounding the steam conductin means in a direction opposite tothe direction of the How of steam, a foraminous outlet between a certaintwo of said.

J ESSE D. LANGDO-N.

Witnesses Ro'r. T. LANG, J. H. REID.

